I've Had Enough, CEO

Chapter 6 Pregnancy

Julian raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. "The doctor said hyperventilation can affect a pregnancy. Elena, are you hiding something from me?"

Pregnancy?

Julian's words hit Elena like a bolt of lightning, shattering the fragile calm she had just managed to rebuild.

She remembered it all too clearly. Every time she'd been with Nathaniel, they had taken precautions—except for that one time, a month ago, when they were both too drunk to think straight.

Even then, she had taken the morning-after pill, though a little later than recommended. She never imagined it would come to this.

The blood test, meant to check for her hyperventilation, had revealed something else entirely. She wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or panicked, but at least she'd found out early.

Her hand instinctively moved to her lower abdomen. 'I've already made up my mind to end things with Nathaniel. There's no reason to keep his child.'

It felt like the logical choice—the pregnancy was still in its early stages. Ending it now would be the smartest move, before things got any more complicated.

She straightened up, clearing her thoughts, and looked at Julian with a resigned smile. "I guess I should go ahead and get checked at OB-GYN."

Julian was quick to his feet, offering his hand to help her up. "You've got it. I'll make sure nothing happens to you. You're practically a porcelain doll right now."

He held her IV bag in one hand, guiding her with the other as they made their way to the clinic.

Inside the OB-GYN...

The middle-aged doctor scanned Elena's test results and offered practical advice. "You'll want to get plenty of rest, avoid stress, and eat more fruit. It'll help keep you healthy."

Elena took a deep breath, steeling herself before speaking. "Doctor, I'd like to terminate the pregnancy. It was an accident."

The doctor's expression softened as she spoke carefully. "Your fertility is lower than average. If you choose to terminate, your chances of conceiving again will decrease, and the procedure could have a lasting impact on your health."

Elena hesitated. She didn't dislike the idea of having children. In fact, part of her had always liked kids. But her life was already a tangled mess of responsibilities, and she had never seriously considered early marriage or pregnancy.

And this child—Nathaniel's child—what would that mean for her? For them? If she kept it, how would Nathaniel react?

How would Gwendolyn and everyone else at the company see her?

Her body was already fragile, and now was not the time to push herself to the breaking point.

With her sister's medical bills looming over her, risking her health could spell disaster.

Maybe it was best to wait, give herself time to heal, and think clearly.

She glanced at Julian, her voice filled with uncertainty. "Julian, can you keep this pregnancy a secret? I don't want anyone else to know."

Julian gave her a reassuring smile, placing a hand over his heart. "You can count on me. My lips are sealed."

He was curious about the identity of the father, but Elena's silence made it clear she wasn't ready to talk about it. Respecting her privacy, he didn't push the issue.

After speaking with the doctor and gathering some more information, they made their way out of the clinic together.

As soon as they stepped outside, Elena froze.

Just a few feet away stood Nathaniel, his arm around Gwendolyn, who was draped on him like a prized possession, her pale yellow coat and matching knit hat only adding to the sweetness of the scene.

'Why are they here?' Elena's stomach twisted.

'Is this why Nathaniel didn't take my call yesterday—because he was picking up Gwendolyn from the airport?'

Was Gwendolyn ill? Did she need medical attention?

The thought that Nathaniel would rush to the hospital with Gwendolyn but ignore her when she needed him most stung like a knife.

She swallowed the hurt, forcing herself to stay calm, and turned to leave before they could notice her.

But what she didn't realize was that Nathaniel had already seen her. He'd noticed the moment she stepped out, and in a deliberate move, let Gwendolyn hold onto him, making sure Elena saw it.

What he didn't expect was for Elena to turn and walk away without a word.

"Elena!" Nathaniel's voice rang out, sharp with frustration.

Gwendolyn followed his gaze, her eyes widening in surprise when she spotted Elena.

They had crossed paths before, but Gwendolyn had never suspected the seemingly innocent woman had been angling for Nathaniel all this time.

Feigning concern, Gwendolyn approached with a sweet smile. "Elena, I just got back yesterday, and I've been feeling a bit under the weather, so Nate took me to the hospital. What a coincidence to run into you here! I heard you took a sick day—is everything okay?"

The thinly veiled boast in Gwendolyn's tone wasn't lost on Elena. She opened her mouth to respond, but Julian was quicker, his voice playful yet protective.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. Cross and Ms. Price! No need to worry—Elena's in good hands. Unlike some people, I don't leave her hanging when it matters most."

The jab was directed straight at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Gwendolyn's gaze flitted between Julian and Elena, her smile growing more cunning.

"Oh, Elena, is this your boyfriend? How sweet of him to come with you to the hospital. I'm jealous! Nate rarely comes with me."

Nathaniel's eyes darkened. "Didn't you say you needed to take a break? It looks like you've made use of your break and found yourself a boyfriend."

Elena took a deep breath, her eyes cold as she faced him. "And what is wrong with that? I called you yesterday. Did you know I was in a car accident? If it hadn't been for Julian, I might have died in that car."

She lifted the hem of her pant leg, revealing her bandaged calf in front of all three of them. "Mr. Cross, take a good look."

Nathaniel's face tightened with guilt. "Yesterday, I—"

Elena cut him off with a sharp laugh. "What? You were too busy picking up Ms. Price from the airport to take my call? Isn't that what happened?"

Seeing Nathaniel falter, Gwendolyn's jealousy flared. Pointing toward the OB-GYN sign, she sneered, "If you were in an accident, why were you with this man at OB-GYN? Do you really think we didn't notice that?"